Paint association expects low-VOC regulations to have 2010 deadline

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Given that Environment Canada's proposed VOC regulations have not yet been published, even in draft form, and given the time it will take the industry to convert to compliant materials, the head of the Canadian Paint and Coatings Association (CPCA) says the Jan. 1, 2009 deadline is likely to be revised to 2010.
Jim Quick told attendees at the Canadian Collision Industry Forum in Toronto that he expects the implementation date will be changed to 2010. The draft form of the regulation is now being finalized. It must then be published in Gazette Part I. Then the industry is given a chance to comment on the draft regulation, Environment Canada considers industry responses, and a final regulation is published in Gazette Part II. Quick thinks the earliest possible publication date for the final regulation is the third quarter of 2008.
CPCA has been meeting regularly with Environment Canada about the proposed VOC regulations, urging the regulatory agency to harmonize Canada's regulations with those of Europe and California (which it did), and negotiating an acceptable timeline for implementation.
The association has also estimated the costs associated with the conversion to compliant products, which includes waterborne basecoat. Quick says the total hard cost for conversion will be about $198 million. Paint manufacturers, distributors and shops will bear the cost of training and conversions, which he estimates at $75 million. He expects collision repair shops to spend about $28 million on upgrading small equipment, such as spray guns and gun washers. A further $70 million is calculated for capital expenditures by shops. Paint replacement is estimated to cost $25 million, shared between paint manufacturers, distributors and shops.
CPCA has identified government assistance programs that might help to offset the costs, and is working toward developing a funding model.

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